ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Finance
INDIA and ADB sign $206 million loan to strengthen urban services in 5 Tamil Nadu cities
The Asian Development Bank  and the Government of India on 2nd December 2019 signed a $206 million loan to develop water supply and sewerage infrastructure in 5 cities of Tamil Nadu and strengthen capacities of urban local bodies  for improved service delivery.
This is the second project loan for the ADB-supported $500 million multi-tranche financing for Tamil Nadu Urban Flagship Investment Programme, approved in September 2018, that will overall develop climate-resilient water supply, sewerage, and drainage infrastructure in 10 cities of Tamil Nadu. The first project under the Programme with $169 million financing is currently under implementation.
The signatories to the loan agreement were Mr Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary , Department of Economic Affairs in India’s Ministry of Finance, and Mr Kenichi Yokoyama, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission.
“The project is aimed at improving the lives of the urban people in the identified cities of Tamil Nadu by providing universal access to water supply and sanitation, and improving sewage treatment and drainage systems. Project initiatives are also expected to help the state develop the requisite ecosytem for economic growth,” said Mr Khare after signing the loan agreement.
“The project interventions will benefit residents, workers and industries in the state’s economic corridors thereby building industrial competitiveness and creating good jobs. It also supports urban reform agenda such as better service delivery through private operators and with quality benchmarking,” said Mr Yokoyama.
The project will target four cities — Ambur, Tiruchirappalli, Tiruppur, and Vellore — for developing sewage collection and treatment and drainage systems by setting up or rehabilitating sewage treatment plants, pumping stations, and connecting all households in the project area to the sewerage network, including below poverty line households. Wastewater reuse for industry will also be achieved in at least 4 cities. Improvement to water supply systems would be targeted in the cities of Madurai and Tiruppur through commissioning of over 1,260 km of new distribution lines to connect nearly 190,000 households with metered water supply, including below poverty line households. In addition, nearly 200 km of new transmission mains and 230 km of feeder mains would be constructed along with two new water treatment plants.
The project will also strengthen capacity of the Commissionerate of Municipal Administration in Tamil Nadu for new project development, and monitoring and benchmarking quality of services across the 135 urban local bodies in the state.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. In 2018, it made commitments of new loans and grants amounting to $21.6 billion. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members — 49 from the region.
Ministry of Culture
Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi observes International Day of Yoga by performing Yoga with people of Tamil Nadu from Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari
As we are celebrating the 75 years of Independence, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Mass Yoga demonstrations are being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country under the leadership of 75 Union Ministers, along with the Yoga Demonstration by the Prime Minister at Mysore, on the occasion of the 8th International Day of Yoga. In this regard, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi observes International Day of Yoga by performing Yoga with people of Tamil Nadu from Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari.
By reaching the Vivekananda Rock by boat, Minister paid floral tribute to Swami Vivekananda and demonstrated yoga on the Vivekananda rock. Following this, the Minister performed various yogasanas for about an hour, at an event held at the Kanyakumari Vivekananda Centre. While addressing the event, Minister Lekhi asserted that the yoga got international recognition due to the efforts taken by the Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi
With yoga the mind, body and soul gets integrated and doing yoga regularly will give great strength to body and mind, she added. Yoga creates an attitude of helping each other. She remarked that Swami Vivekananda instilled the confidence that India, the largest country, can achieve independence through meditation. The Union Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to work tirelessly for the welfare of the country as Swami Vivekananda, who believed in the culture and spirituality of the country, continued to work for the culture of the country.
Smt. Sanjukta Mudgal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shri .M. R. Gandhi, M.L.A Nagercoil, Shri. M. Aravind, District Collector, Kanyakumari, Shri. D.N. Hari Kiran Prasad, Supt. of Police, Kanyakumari, Shri. Navratna KR Pathak, Director of Monument ASI, Dr.Arun Raj, Director ASI, Shri. Pon Radhakrishnan, Former Union Minister also participated in the event.
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GB/ JJ/ Sri
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Ministry of Defence
Centre for Land Warfare Studies  Announces Winners of National Levelfield Marshal Manekshaw Essay Competition  2020-21
The Field Marshal Manekshaw Essay Competition , which was initiated in 2018-19, by Centre for Land Warfare Studies  under the patronage of Indian Army celebrates its third successive year , with the objective to keep the young minds engaged in the most troubled times that the world is experiencing with the global pandemic – COVID-19. CLAWS organises its flagship national level essay competition named after India’s grand strategist – Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw to inculcate strategic thinking amongst the youth especially among university students. The competition has two categories Manekshaw Papers  and Issue Brief . With 104 registrations this year, following students from six different Colleges/Universities spread across the country, have won in the prestigious FMMEC 2020-21:
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Winners in Manekshaw Paper Category
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S No
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Title
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Name of Awardee
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Name of College and University
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Position
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1.
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Institutionalising Open Source Intelligence  in India: An Analysis
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AMIYA KRISHNA
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Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla
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FIRST
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2.
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Left Wing Extremism in India: A Governance Perspective
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NAYAKARA VEERESHA
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University Law College, Bangalore University
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SECOND
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3.
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Ensuring National Security Through Island Territories: Islands as Unsinkable Aircraft Carriers
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DS MURUGAN YADAV
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Guru Nanak College ,
Affiliated to Madras University
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THIRD
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Winners in Issue Brief Category
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S No
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Title
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Name of Awardee
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Name of College and University
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Position
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1.
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Civil-Military Relations in India: Role of Military in National Security Decision Making
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PARSHURAM SAHOO
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Central University of Gujarat
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FIRST
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2.
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Water Security: Imperative for National Security
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SUMALATHA KC
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O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat
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SECOND
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3.
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Emerging Cyberattack on India’s Intellectual Property: Threat to National Security
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AYASHA FIROZ
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Aligarh Muslim University
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THIRD
AA, BSC
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Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Shri Ram Vilas Paswan approves recommendations of 7th CPC for employees of Bureau of Indian Standards 
Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has given approval for applicability of revised pay scales to employees of Bureau of Indian Standards  as per recommendations of 7th CPC.
The Union Minister said “Approval given to Bureau of Indian Standards  for applicability of revised pay scales to its employees on recommendations of 7th CPC. Financial arrangements to provide new pay scales to the employees of BIS will be made from own resources of this organization.”
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Ministry of Finance
CBDT issues notification for amendment of Form No. 15H of the Income-tax Rules, 1962
Sub-section  of section 197A of the Income-tax Act, 1961  read with rule 29C of the Rules, inter alia, provides that no deduction of tax shall be made in case of a resident individual, who is of the age of sixty years or more, if he furnishes a declaration in Form 15H to the person responsible for paying any income of the nature referred to in section 192A, 193, 194, 194A, 194D, 194DA, 194EE, 194-I or 194K, to the effect that the tax on his estimated total income will be nil.
Further, Note 10 to Form No 15H provides for non-acceptance of declaration if the amount of income of the nature referred to in section 197A or the aggregate of the amounts of such income credited or paid or likely to be credited or paid during the previous year in which such income is to be included exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to tax after allowing for deduction under Chapter VIA, if any, set off of loss, if any, under the head “income from house property” for which the declarant is eligible.
Section 87A of the Act has been amended vide Finance Act, 2019 which provides that a resident individual, having total income up to Rs. 5 lakh, shall be entitled to a rebate of an amount being the amount of tax chargeable or Rs. 12,500/-, whichever is less.
However, at present, the note 10 of Form 15H does not take into account the maximum allowable rebate of Rs 12,500/- provided under section 87A as above, which is available to the assessee in respect of the tax calculated on income, there could be cases, where, though income of the assessee would be above the minimum amount chargeable to income-tax, tax liability may be nil after taking into account the rebate available under section 87A. Deduction of tax in such cases may cause undue hardship to senior citizens.
Accordingly, Income-tax Rules, 1962 have been amended by way of insertion of proviso in Note 10 of Form No 15H and have already been notified vide Notification No G.S.R. 375 dated 22nd May, 2019, so as to provide that the person responsible for paying the income referred to in column 15 of Part I shall accept the declaration in the case of the assessee, being a senior citizen, who is eligible for rebate of income-tax under section 87A, and his/her tax liability is nil after taking into account this rebate.
This notification is available on www.incometaxindia.gov.in.
Ministry of Development of North-East Region
Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Sh Conrad Sangma calling on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh at New Delhi on Wednesday.
Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Sh Conrad Sangma today called on Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region , Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed the progress of different State projects related to infrastructure, roads and public welfare.
Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated commitment by Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi's commitment to give top priority to the North Eastern States and to bring them at par with more developed States of the country. He expressed satisfaction to observe that, of late, tourist inflow had picked up in a big way in many of the picturesque destinations of Meghalaya including Shillong.
The Chief Minister of Meghlaya took up with the DoNER Minister, the issue of some of the projects that had been sanctioned under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme . He requested for the early release of financial assistance for four of these projects. The Minister assured that he would look into it and if there were any procedural delays, the same will be immediately taken care of.
Conrad Sangma also discussed the proposals for some of the new projects of Meghalaya. These include road projects involving metalling & black-topping of intermediate lanes on Rongjeng – Mangsang – Adokgre  Road from 0 km to 32 Kms and 39 Kms to 43 Kms including a 19 meter bridge over river Ildek. Dr Jitendra Singh informed that project had been sanctioned and the North Eastern Council  has sought certain clarifications.
Another project related to “Integrated Police Welfare Complex” at Baghmara has also been sanctioned by the Ministry of DoNER and this too came up for discussion during the meeting.
Dr Jitendra Singh told Conrad Sangma that in the next two weeks, he would be travelling to two of the North Eastern States, namely Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Thereafter, he said, he would plan a visit to Meghalaya as well.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Misleading myths are being spread on Farm Bills by vested interests: Dr.Jitendra Singh
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that misleading myths are being spread about the Farm Bills by certain vested interests who are trying to provoke the farmers for petty political gains.
In a detailed interview to Doordarshan, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the ridiculous irony is that baseless rumours are being spread in the name of certain provisions that do not at all exist in the Bills brought in the Parliament by the Modi Government. For example, he said, a wide spread campaign has been unleashed to misguide the framers into believing that the Minimum Support Price  has been stopped, whereas in the Bills there is no such reference to the MSP system, which obviously indicates that MSP system will continue as before.
On the other hand, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Farm Bills brought by the government will lead to the democratisation of the farming sector by giving the farmer freedom and choice to sell his crop to anyone, anywhere and if he wants, to earn more profits by joining the big companies. At the same time, in none of the Bills, there is even a slightest indication that the Mandiswill end, which in other words means that the market system will continue as before and the Agricultural & Food Policy Center  will also be in place.
Similarly, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the farmers are being provoked by being told that they will be facing exploitation by big companies in the name of contract. Quite contrary to this, the Bill contains sufficient provisions to protect the farmer from any exploitation, he said.
Elaborating further, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the contract and the agreement will guarantee the farmer to get the fixed price and farmers can withdraw at any point without any penalty.
Not only this, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Bills clearly prohibit sale, lease or mortgage of the farmer's land because the agreement is on crops and not on land. It is, therefore, a wrong interpretation that big businessmen will grab the land of the farmers and turn them into bonded labourers.
The Farm Bills also provide sufficient safeguards for the sale of crops in the open market said Dr Jitendra Singh. Citing an example, he said, when a farmer chooses to sell the crop in the open market anywhere in the country, the purchasers of the crop will be bound to make the entire payment on the same day or if procedural time is required within three working days. In case of default, there are also provisions of penalty on the purchaser, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh alleged that those who are opposing the Bills and provoking the farmers are actually trying, in vain, to make it an issue for electoral considerations.
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SNC
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Prime Minister's Office
Happy to see tech being leveraged for port-led development and to ensure Ease of Doing Business: PM
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi expressed happiness over Sagar Setu, the mobile app of National Logistics Portal-Marine.
In reply to the tweet by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, the Prime Minister said;
“Happy to see tech being leveraged for port-led development and to ensure Ease of Doing Business.”
Ministry of Defence
REAR ADMIRAL VIKRAM MENON TAKES OVER AS FOGA
Rear Admiral Vikram Menon, VSM took over duties of Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area  and Flag Officer Naval Aviation  on 30 Apr 2022 from Rear Admiral Philipose G Pynumootil, AVSM, NM, who retired on superannuation after a career spanning over 36 years in service.
Rear Admiral Menon is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Naval War College and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 January 1990. An experienced fighter pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor with over 2000 hours of flying experience, he has flown the Sea Harrier aircraft extensively from INS Viraat. He also served as the Senior Pilot of INAS 300 and commanded INAS 552. He was awarded the Vishist Seva Medal in 2018 while commanding INS Hansa, a premier air station of the Indian Navy. His afloat tenures include command of Fast Attack Craft INS Tillanchang, Offshore Patrol Vessel INS Sharda and the Fleet Tanker INS Shakti. He has also served as Executive Officer of the guided missile destroyer INS Ranvijay.
Prior to taking over as FOGA, the Flag Officer held the appointment of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff  at Naval Headquarters. His Staff appointments include Director of Aircraft Acquisition at Naval Headquarters and Chief Staff Officer  at Headquarters Naval Aviation.
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MK/VM/PS
(Visitor Counter : 1878
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
DPIIT establishes Development Council for Bicycle
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade , Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has set up a Development Council for Bicycle for vision planning in design, engineering and manufacturing of lighter, smarter, value added, safe and faster premium bicycles which are comparable with global standards for exports and domestic market.
A Twenty-three-member Council will be headed by Secretary DPIIT. The constitution of the Council is for a period of two years. Joint Secretary, Light Engineering Industry Division in DPIIT will be Member-Secretary. The Council will have 9 ex-officio members from DPIIT and Department of Commerce, Ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Health and Family Welfare, Road Transport and Highways, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Bureau of Indian Standards. The Council will also have 7 expert domain members and 4 nominated. The terms of ex-officio members shall be co-terminus with their official posting. Others members may be co-opted, as required, by the Chairperson of the Council.
The Council will stimulate value chain and fuel accelerated demand growth of Make-in-India through the following activities:
- To improve competitiveness and level of services.
- To transform Indian bicycle technology and its value chain.
- To ensure development of holistic eco-system through close, coordinated and continuous stakeholder persuasion.
- To undertake all possible measures for leveraging bicycle demand, it may inter-alia include ensuring enabling  cycling infrastructure and operations.
- To enhance export competitiveness of bicycle through support of schemes and favourable trade policies.
- To popularize the incredible benefits of cycling through the campaigns piloted by the concerned Ministries/ Departments of Government of India such as Ministry of Health , Ministry of Environment and Forest , Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas , Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs .
- Development of medium and small industries to usher in a new mind-set through innovative schemes in a structured and synergetic way.
- Development of skilled human resources development for bicycle manufacturing and repair shops.
- To identify and study best international practices and successful story to adopt for bicycle manufacturing, recycling and infrastructure development in India.
Prime Minister's Office
PM lauds Padma Awardees
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised this year's Padma Awardees.
In a tweet Shri Modi said "We are proud of all those who have been conferred the Padma Awards. India cherishes their contribution to the nation and humanity at large. These exceptional individuals from different walks of life have brought qualitative changes in the lives of others."
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Inter-Ministerial Committee reviews prices & availability of Onions across the Nation; Union Government to act as a facilitator for Onion imports to ease the process and ensure a quick and healthy supply from other countries
The Department of Consumer Affairs  through an inter-ministerial committee today again reviewed the prices and availability of Onions. The meeting chaired by the Secretary, Consumer Affairs Shri Avinash K Srivastava was attended by representatives of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare including the Horticulture Commissioner, NAFED, Mother Dairy, Kendriya Bhandar, Representative of Delhi Government, representative from APMC Azadpur and senior officials of the Department of Consumer Affairs. During the meeting it was informed by officials that supply disruptions are mainly due to rain and two cyclones and it is expected to improve in the coming days.
The following decisions were taken to augment supplies:
- Union Government to act as a facilitator for import of Onion. Phytosanitary and fumigation requirement to be suitably liberalised to facilitate imports. Indian missions in Afghanistan, Egypt, Turkey and Iran to be requested to facilitate supply of Onions to India. This is expected to facilitate immediate import of 80 containers and diversion of 100 containers in high seas to India.
- NAFED was directed to supply the maximum possible quantities to Delhi Government and Mother Dairy/Safal for retailing. Team led by Additional MD, NAFED to go to Nashik and take stock of the situation there and facilitate movement of supplies from Maharashtra to consuming regions including Delhi and adjoining regions.
- Two Inter Ministerial teams to be dispatched tomorrow and day after to Karnataka and Rajasthan to take stock of their Onion supplies and encourage the supplies to consuming regions including Delhi-NCR.
- Rajasthan government has already assured quick movement of Onion stock post harvesting to augment supplies. The harvesting has already commenced in some areas.
- Delhi Government was advised to accompany the Inter Ministerial team of officials going to Karnataka and Rajasthan. They were also advised to hold meeting with traders and encourage them to pick up available supplies in the region. They may also discourage traders from profiteering and speculative pricing.
Ministry of Coal
Coal Production During March, 2023 goes up by 12% to 107.84 Million Tonne
Coal Dispatch Increases by 7.49% to 83.18 MT
Coal Based Power Generation Achieves 5.70% Increase
During the month of March, 2023 India’s coal production increased by 12.03% to 107.84 MT from 96.26 MT as compared to Mar'22. As per the provisional statistics of the Ministry of Coal, during Mar'23, Coal India Ltd , Singareni Collieries Company Limited  and captive mines/others registered a growth of 4.06%, 8.53% and 81.35% respectively.
Of the top 37 coal producing mines in the country, 29 mines produced more than 100% and another six mines’ production stood between 80 and 100 per cent.
At the same time, coal despatch increased by 7.49% to 83.18 MT from 77.38 MT during Mar'23 as compared to Mar'22. During Mar'23, CIL, SCCL and Captives/Others registered a growth of 3.40%, 12.61% & 31.15% by despatching 64.15 MT, 6.70 MT & 12.32 MT respectively.
The Power utilities despatch has increased by 4.36% to 68.36 MT during Mar'23 as compared to 65.51 MT in Mar'22.
Coal based power generation has registered a growth of 5.70% in Mar'23 as compared to Mar'22 and overall power generation in Mar'23 has been 4.59% higher than the power generated in Mar'22. Further, total power generation has increased in Mar'23 to 139718 MU from 128026 MU in Feb'23, registering a growth of 9.13%.